Senator Calls for Faster MRT-7 Completion Amid EDSA Repairs
With the upcoming EDSA repair expected to worsen traffic congestion, a senator urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to speed up the completion of the MRT-7 to enhance connectivity and ease commuter challenges. The senator emphasized that the timely completion of MRT-7 will offer an additional mass transportation option for the public. This will provide motorists an alternative to driving their cars, potentially reducing the number of vehicles on the road.
“Everyone in Metro Manila is waiting to get on board. We hope the MRT-7 project will soon be a reality,” said the senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.
Project Overview and Benefits of MRT-7
The MRT-7 promises a swift 35-minute trip from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, featuring 14 stations along its route. It is targeted to be fully operational by 2026. A major corporation, led by a prominent business figure, holds the concession to build, operate, and maintain this railway.
According to the senator, the new train line will help commuters avoid the daily crawl along Commonwealth Avenue, making travel faster and more comfortable. She quoted a popular online meme about the current train experience: “Sabi nga ng meme tungkol sa ating trains sa Facebook, ‘Papasok kang estudyante, lalabas kang mandirigma.’ Sana may katapusan naman ang paghihirap ng ating mga commuter.”
Senator’s Advocacy for Better Rail Systems
In 2014, the senator personally experienced the MRT-3 during rush hour to understand the daily struggles of passengers. She endured long queues, experienced machine malfunctions, and took an hour and a half to reach Taft Station from North Avenue. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, she has led numerous inquiries aimed at improving train facilities, operations, and maintenance while scrutinizing contracts with private providers.
In the current Congress, she filed a resolution to investigate all rail projects backed by China. Previously, she also pushed for a common train station and better management of MRT-3.
“The path to get a train ride in Metro Manila is not as straight as its tracks. It takes a long and winding queue, climbing steep stairs and squeezing oneself in a tight coach,” she said. “But this should not stop us from working to have better train system and facilities. The Filipinos deserve a dignified ride.”
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